She was destined to be an Anteater

Karen and Al Miner hold their quadruplets born at UCI Medical Center in 1990. The quadruplets were concieved through GIFT procedure. babies left to right: Jeffrey, Brianna, Vincent and Whitney.FILE PHOTO:, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

First-year medical student Brianna Miner made Orange County history long before she arrived at UC Irvine this fall to study medicine.

In 1990, Miner and her three siblings became the first set of quadruplets to be conceived and born in Orange County through the use of Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer, or GIFT. The procedure involves taking sperm and eggs and implanting them directly into a woman’s fallopian tubes rather than allowing them to develop in test tubes or a laboratory dish.

Her monumental birth at UC Irvine required the assistance of more than 40 medical workers and drew media attention across the state.

Now Miner has returned to the institution where she was born for a chance to study alongside Dr. Manuel Porto, the same doctor who delivered her at UC Irvine Medical Center 23 years ago.

Although some might say Miner was destined to be a doctor at UC Irvine, she says the calling didn’t come naturally. Miner didn’t grow up wanting to be a doctor and the idea didn’t come to her in the middle of the night, she said. Instead, it was a desire to help others that grew over time that inspired her to apply to medical school after earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UC Santa Barbara.

COMPLICATED PREGNANCY

Miner’s parents Karen and Al Miner had attempted to conceive for four years before opting to try the relatively new fertility procedure recommended by their primary physician.

At the time, most GIFT procedures yielded a success rate of about 25 percent, so it came as a surprise when the couple found out they were having not one but four babies in the coming months.

“Al was almost speechless,” said Dr. Porto, a specialist in difficult pregnancies and multiple births and current chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Irvine. “They had just found out they were having quadruplets. He’s a very articulate guy, but that first meeting he was like a deer caught in the headlights. Karen approached things from a very factual point of view from the get go.”

The odds of having quadruplets are about 1 in 700,000, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

While there are many risks associated with multiple births, the biggest concern is delivering premature. On average, quadruplets are born at 30 to 29 weeks, about 10 weeks early. Premature birth can lead to respiratory problems and neurological complications, said Porto. .

“The babies that survive prematurity that have the highest likelihood of serious complications are those that are born less than (3.5 pounds),” said Porto. “There was a very high likelihood that the quadruplets would be born in that category. We were very fortunate that things went much better.”

THE DELIVERY

At 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 10, 1990, Brianna was born. Shortly after, her siblings followed. Jeffrey was next, then Vincent, and finally Whitney. The quads were eight weeks premature.

The staff at UC Irvine Medical Center had prepped for the monumental occasion for months. Dr. Porto had assigned more than 40 medical workers to a color-coded system used to monitor each baby and several drills were performed to ensure that the delivery went smoothly.

Karen and Al Miner hold their quadruplets born at UCI Medical Center in 1990. The quadruplets were concieved through GIFT procedure. babies left to right: Jeffrey, Brianna, Vincent and Whitney. FILE PHOTO:, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brianna Miner anxiously waits to greet Dr. Manuel Porto, right, outside his office at UCI Medical Center. Miner, who has been accepted into the UCI Medical School program, was delivered by Dr. Porto 23 years ago. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dr. Manuel Porto gives incoming UCI medical student Brianna Miner a hug. Dr. Porto delivered Miner and her sibling quadruplets in 1990 as the first quadruplets to be born in Orange County using GIFT fertility methods. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brianna Miner and Dr. Manuel Porto catch up on what the Miner quadruplets have been doing. Porto delivered Miner and her siblings in 1990. Miner has been accepted into the UCI Medical School program. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dr. Manuel Porto takes quadruplet Brianna Miner to show her where she and her siblings were born in 1990. Miner has been accepted into the UCI Medical School. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
After presenting her with her UCI medical school lab coat, Dr. Manuel Porto takes a walk with incoming medical student Brianna Miner, one of the quadruplets that Porto delivered in 1990. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Incoming UCI medical student Brianna Miner walks out of a labor and delivery room at UCI Medical Center that used to be an operating room where Miner and her siblings were born in 1990. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dr. Manuel Porto shows incoming medical student Brianna Miner the room where he delivered her and quadruplet siblings in 1990. The room used to be an operating room and is now a labor and delivery room. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brianna Miner, the first quadruplet to be born in Orange County using GIFT fertility methods, has been accepting into the UCI Medical School. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Incoming medical student Brianna Miner is presented with her UCI Medical School lab coat by Dr. Manuel Porto, who delivered Miner and her sibling quadruplets in 1990. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.